Cochlea-based microwave channelizer

Abstract

A system includes an RF input coupled to a plurality of channel filters through an inductive manifold. Each of the channel filters is configured as a series resonator and has a frequency of greater than about 1 GHz. The frequency of the channel filters decreases as their distance from the RF input increases. Components of each of the channel filters, which may include a series inductor, series capacitor, and shunt capacitor, are configured using high-Q transmission lines. A tunable notch filter, such as an absorptive tunable band-stop filter, may be included within the channel filters. The system may be used for protection of wideband receivers.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 an RF input coupled to a plurality of channel filters through an inductive manifold, wherein each of the plurality of channel filters is configured as a series resonator and has a frequency of greater than about 1 GHz, wherein a closest one of the plurality of channel filters has a highest frequency of the plurality of channel filters and the frequency of each of the plurality of channel filters decreases as a distance of the plurality of channel filters from the RF input increases, wherein components of each of the plurality of channel filters are configured using high-Q transmission lines. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the components of each of the plurality of channel filters comprise a series inductor, a series capacitor, and a shunt capacitor, wherein the series inductor is configured using a high impedance transmission line, the series capacitor is configured using an edge coupled transmission line, and the shunt capacitor is configured using a wide transmission line. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channel filters has a frequency within a range of about 3 GHz and about 8 GHz. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channel filters has a frequency within a range of about 6 GHz and about 13 GHz. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise micro-strip transmission lines. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise co-planar waveguide transmission lines. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise substrate integrated waveguide transmission lines. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the RF input, the inductive manifold, and the plurality of channel filters are disposed on a ceramic substrate. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the ceramic substrate is a fused silica quartz substrate. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of channel filters comprises a tunable notch filter therein. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the tunable notch filter is an absorptive tunable band-stop filter. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the tunable notch filter is an absorptive tunable band-stop filter. 
     
     
       13. A system comprising:
 an RF input coupled to a plurality of channel filters through an inductive manifold, wherein each of the plurality of channel filters is configured as a series resonator, wherein each of the plurality of channel filters has a frequency within a range of about 3 GHz and about 8 GHz, wherein a closest one of the plurality of channel filters has a highest frequency of the plurality of channel filters and the frequency of each of the plurality of channel filters decreases as a distance of the plurality of channel filters from the RF input increases, wherein components of each of the plurality of channel filters are configured using high-Q transmission lines, wherein the components of each of the plurality of channel filters comprise a series inductor, a series capacitor, and a shunt capacitor, wherein the series inductor is configured using a high impedance transmission line, the series capacitor is configured using an edge coupled transmission line, and the shunt capacitor is configured using a wide transmission line. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise micro-strip transmission lines. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise co-planar waveguide transmission lines. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise substrate integrated waveguide transmission lines. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the RF input, the inductive manifold, and the plurality of channel filters are disposed on a ceramic substrate. 
     
     
       18. A system comprising:
 an RF input coupled to a plurality of channel filters through an inductive manifold, wherein each of the plurality of channel filters is configured as a series resonator, wherein each of the plurality of channel filters has a frequency within a range of about 6 GHz and about 13 GHz, wherein a closest one of the plurality of channel filters has a highest frequency of the plurality of channel filters and the frequency of each of the plurality of channel filters decreases as a distance of the plurality of channel filters from the RF input increases, wherein components of each of the plurality of channel filters are configured using high-Q transmission lines, wherein the components of each of the plurality of channel filters comprise a series inductor, a series capacitor, and a shunt capacitor, wherein the series inductor is configured using a high impedance transmission line, the series capacitor is configured using an edge coupled transmission line, and the shunt capacitor is configured using a wide transmission line, wherein the RF input, the inductive manifold, and the plurality of channel filters are disposed on a fused silica quartz substrate. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the high-Q transmission lines comprise one of micro-strip transmission lines, co-planar waveguide transmission lines, and substrate integrated waveguide transmission lines. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of channel filters comprises a tunable notch filter therein.